What are “Make a Wish Yeast Cookies”? They are a yeast based crispy cookie thats rolled in a mixture of sugar, pecans and instant coffee. After that they are formed into the shape of a Wish Bone and baked.
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I was combing through some of Grammy’s old cookbooks when I stumbled across the recipe for “Make a Wish Cookies”. Immediately I was flooded with memories of when Grammy used to bake this cute little Yeast Cookies. I had almost forgotten all about them.
Finding memories on the pages of a Cookbook
The Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off Cookbook was one of Grammy’s most “loved’ cookbooks. The pages are spattered with stains from many different ingredients that landed there over the years. The binding is broken and the only thing holding it together is the clear vinyl book cover that Grammy “sewed” together to protect it.
I guess you could say that my wish came true when I rediscovered this treasured recipe. Yet another recipe to fill our hearts with happy memories of you, Grammy.
What is a Yeast Cookie?
A Yeast Cookie is a cookie that uses yeast instead of baking powder as a levenning agent. It’s what creates the air to form in your cookie so its not a dense block.
You probably think of bread when you hear yeast but it actually is a great substitute for baking powder to use in cookies. Unlike baking powder, yeast doesn’t add any unpleasant flavor to your cookie.
How do you make “Make a Wish Yeast Cookies?”
Making “Make a Wish Cookies” is quite simple. You just mix your ingredients the way you would for most any cookie recipe. Then you want to wrap your dough in plastic wrap and let it chill for about 1 hour.
Once it’s been chilled you want to make your sugar mixture to coat your cookies with. Here are the steps you need to follow to make your little sugar coated Wish Bones.
First take about a 1 inch ball of chilled dough and roll it into a 6 inch strip.
Next you want to dip the rolled cookie strip in an egg wash. **Note ( I tried just dipping the cookie in the sugar coating without the egg wash first. It lacked the nice crunching coating that the egg wash produced.)
Once your dough has been dipped in the egg wash you want to let the excess drip off back into the bowl. Then transfer it to the sugar mixture and roll it to coat all of its surface.
Next, transfer your cookie to a lined cookie sheet and form it into a wish bone shape. Start by folding the strip in half and pinching the dough at the top to form an up side down “V”. Then turn each of the ends of the “V” out and pinch them so that it resembles a “Wish Bone” shape.
Once you have your “V shaped wishbone formed, work your finger in the crease of the “V” and separate it a bit…. more like a “U” shape. The cookies will grow together as they bake and this will help keep it looking like a Wish Bone.
Continue to make your cookies and bake. Let them cool for about 10 minutes then transfer your cookies to a cooling rack and let them cool completely.
Make a Wish Yeast Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough
- 1 Packet Active yeast
- 1/4 Cup Warm water
- 2 1/2 Cups All purpose Flour
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted butter
- 1/4 Cup Shortening
- 2 Large Egg yolks ,reserve whites for egg dip mixture
- 1/4 Cup Light cream
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 1/2 Cup Pecans ,chopped
For the Coating
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Pecans ,chopped
- 3 teaspoons Instant coffee
- 2 Large Egg Whites
- 1 Tablespoon Water
Instructions
For the cookie dough
- In a medium bowl sprinkle yeast over the warm water and set aside to let it activate.
- In a separate medium bowl sift together, flour, sugar and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl cream Butter and shortening. Add egg yolks and blend to combine.
- Mix in light cream and almond extract and beat well.
- Add the activated yeast and dry ingredients into your butter mixture and mix to combine.
- Add the 1/2 cup of chopped pecans and mix into the dough.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for 1 hour.
For the coating
- In a medium bowl mix together the sugar, pecans and instant coffee.
- In another bowl whisk the egg whites with a tablespoon of water.
Make the cookies
- Preheat oven to 375 Degrees F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove chilled dough from the fridge. Scoop about a 1 inch ball sized piece of dough and roll it into a 6 inch strip.
- Dip the dough strip in the egg wash, letting excess egg drip back into the bowl.
- Roll cookie strip in the sugar mixture to coat well.
- Place on your lined cookie sheet and bend the strip in half to form an up side down "V" shape and pinch at the tip. Then flip the end of each of the legs up and pinch them to make a "Wish Bone" shape. ***Spread the crease open a bit more to make it more like a "U" at the end...before you bake it. Once the cookie bakes it will grow together if you don't.
- Continue making cookie wish bones with the rest of your dough and bake for 12-14 minutes. ***Check after 12 minutes and slightly lift your cookie to check underneath to make sure it's not burning.
- Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for 12-14 minutes then remove cookies to cooling rack and cool completely.
- Store in an air tight container for up to a week. Or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
What will you wish for when you make these Make a Wish Yeast Cookies?
Looking for more delicious cooke recipes? Try some of these!
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
Polish Cream Cheese Cookies {Kolaczki}
Make a Wish Yeast Cookies definitely bring back some fond childhood memories!
Loved these would be great whenever serving turkey and anyone wanting the wishbone from it when through eating the turkey. This way everyone can have one and serve as a dessert at the same time
Great idea!